As Round 4 of the Hyundai A-League arrives, here’s your latest injury update.
BETTER NEWS FOR JETS MARQUEE
The Newcastle Jets retain hope that Ronald Vargas might play again this season.
Following an initially dire diagnosis after the Venezuelan marquee suffered an horrific leg injury on Sunday night against Brisbane, it’s now being reported Vargas could be back in four to five months, meaning he could play finals football if the Jets make the top six.
REDS’ BUSY TREATMENT TABLE
Injury has hit Marco’s Kurz’s in-form Adelaide United hard ahead of their blockbuster clash with league-leaders Melbourne City on Saturday night.
Midfielder Vince Lia (knee) and defender Ersan Gülüm (lung) will both sit out the match and are likely to be joined by flying Dane Johan Absalonsen (thigh).
These latest niggles come on the back of defensive strongman Taylor Regan’s knee injury which is set to keep him on the sidelines for 6-8 weeks, while there is still no firm date for Tarek Elrich’s return from his long-term knee injury.
ROAR’S DOUBLE-HAMSTRING WOE
Brisbane fullback Corey Brown left the field before half-time in last weekend’s loss to Newcastle and is likely to be out for at least a month with a hamstring strain.
There was hope Danish midfielder Thomas Kristensen might recover from his own hamstring injury to play for the first time this season, but he’s been left out of Roar’s squad to travel to Wellington to meet the Phoenix on Saturday night.
CITY SKIPPER PROGRESSING WELL
Bruno Fornaroli continues to make good progress in his recovery from a broken ankle he suffered in late August.
Melbourne City’s talismanic skipper is targeting a return to Hyundai A-League action in early December, while fellow South American attacker Fernando Brandan also continues to rehab well from his knee reconstruction.
KALEZIC’S CENTRE-BACK QUANDARY
Over in Wellington, there was intrigue when Andrew Durante was named in an extended squad to face Brisbane on Saturday night, just days after it was reported he would be out for up to three months with a groin adductor tear.
Having sought a second opinion, it appears the Phoenix skipper may well return far sooner than that, although this weekend seems unlikely.
Durante’s regular centre-back partner, Italian Marco Rossi is also out for a fortnight with his own groin injury.
